Key chain



Dec. 20, 1960 LAu'nN 2,964,937

KEY CHAN Filed June 25. 1959 JD faz ,za r) 6.2 Q; 5.8 l I l] n 1 'W Fly' .4. a \/2c I IN VEN TOR. a? m [[o/v Mur/N BY 1 M Am KEY CHAIN Leon Lautin, 43 White Drive N., Cedarhurst, N .Y.

Filed June 25, 1959, Ser. No. 822,824

9 Clainrs. (Cl. 70-456) The present invention relates to a key chain, and more particularly to a separable key chain which permits ease of attachment and detachment of a key.

It is often desirable to temporarily remove one or more individual keys from a key chain. For example, when parking a car on a parking lot or garage, it is often necessary to leave the ignition key in the car. Therefore, it would be desirable to be able to easily and quickly detach the ignition key from the key chain so that the remaining keys on the key chain can be carried on the person while leaving the ignition key temporarily in the car.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel key chain.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel separable key chain.

It is a further object of the present invention to pro- 'vide a key chain which permits an individual key to be easily and quickly detached from and attached to the key chain.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precse arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the key chain of the present invention in its separated disposition.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the key chain of the present invention in its connected disposition.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a plane view of a key case utilizing the key chain of the present invention.

Referring initially to Figures 1-3, the key chain of the present invention is generally designated as 10. Key chain comprises a base member, generally designated as 12, and a key attachment member, generally designated as 14.

Base member 12 is rectangular, and is made of a rigid plastic. The width of base member 12 is larger than the thickness of the base member 12. Base member 12 has a rectangular hole 16 extending longitudinally therethrough. Hole 16 is positioned so that the bottom wall 18 of the base member 12 is thicker than the top wall 20 of the base member 12. The inner surface of the top wall 20 of the base member 12 has a rectangular groove 22 extending longitudinally along the center of the top wall 20. The top wall 20 of base member 12 has a rectangular notch 24 therethrough extending from the rear end of the base member 12. The notch 24 is positioned intermediate the sides of the base member 12, and in alignment with the groove 22. The bottom wall 18 of the base member 12 has a hole 26 extending transversely therethrough adjacent the rear end of the base member 12. A mounting pin 27 slidably extends through the hole 26 to pivotably support the base member 12.

Key attachment member 14 comprises a thin, rectangular plate 28 of a plastic. The length and width of the plate 28 is substantially equal to the length and width of the hole 16 in the base member 12. Plate 28 has an elongated, rectangular hole 30 in the center thereof. A tongue 32 is integral with the back end of the hole 30. Tongue 32 extends longitudinally along the hole 30, and projects upwardly beyond the uppermost surface of the plate 28. The length of the tongue 32 is shorter than the length of the hole 30. As shown in Figure 1, plate 28 is slightly arched between its ends.

A` narrow, plastic strap 34 is integral with the front end of the plate 28, and extends longitudinally away from the plate 28. Strap 34 is positioned in alignment with the hole 30 in the plate 28, and is of a width substantially equal to the width of the hole 30. Strap 34 is bent through 180 degrees at the point 36 spaced from the front end of the plate 28. From the bend 36, the strap 34 extends back along itself, under the plate 28, and then upwardly through the hole 30 in the plate 28. A rectangular head 38 is integral with the free end of the strap 34. The head 38 extends transversely across the strap 34, and projects beyond both sides of the strap 34. The head 38 is wider than the width of the hole 30 in the plate 28, but is slightly narrower than the width of the plate 28. As shown in Figure 1, the head 38 of the strap 34 lies flat on the uppermost surface of the plate 28.

The key chain 10 of the present invention is used as follows:

To place a key 40 on the key chain 10, the free end of the strap 34 is twisted through substantially degrees to permit the head 38 of the strap 34 to pass downwardly through the hole 30 in the plate 28. The end of the strap 34 is then free from the plate 28 so that the head 38 of the strap 34 can be inserted through the hole 42 in the key 40. With the strap 34 extending through the hole 42 in the key 40, the key 40 is moved along the strap 34 to the bend 36 in the strap 34. The head 38 of the strap 34 is then inserted back upwardly through the hole 30 in the plate 28, and placed flat against the uppermost surface of the plate 28 as shown in Figure 1. The key 40 is thus secured to the key attachment member 14 of the key chain 10.

The plate 28 of the key attachment member 14 is then inserted into the hole 16 in the base member 12 in the direction indicated by the arrow 44 in Figure 1. As the plate 28 is moved through the hole 16 in the base member 12, the tongue 32 on the plate 28 will pass through the groove 22 in the top wall 20 of the base member. The free end of the tongue 32 projects above the uppermost surface of the plate 28 a distance such that when the plate 28 is within the hole 16 in the base member 12, the free end of the tongue 32 is pressed downwardly to- Ward the plate 28. The plate 28 is inserted in the hole 16 in the base member 12 until the free end of the tongue 32 passes the front end 46 of the notch 24 in the base member 12. The downward pressure on the tongue 32 will then be relieved, and the free end of the tongue 32 will snap -upwardly to engage the front end 46 of the notch 24. The engagement between the tongue 32 and the front end 46 of the notch 24 will prevent the plate 28 of the key attachment member 14 from being pulled back out of the base member 12. Thus, the key attachment member 14 is secured to the base member 12. Since the plate 28 of the key attachment member 14 is arched slightly, the back end of the plate 28 will engage the bottom wall 18 of the base member 12, and the front portion of the plate 28 will engage the top wall 20 of the base member 12 so that the plate 28 has 'a relatively tight fit in the hole 16 in the base member 12.

To release the key attachment member 14 from the base member 12, it is only necessary to press downwardly on the free end of the tongue 32 in the direction of the Patented Dec. 20, 1960` arrow 48 in Fgure 3 until the free end of the tongue 32 is with-in the groove 22. The plate 28 can then be pulled from the base member 12 by pulling the key 40 or strap 34 away from the base member 12. Thus, the key attachment member 14 of the key chain can be easily and quickly detached from the base member 12 to permit separate use of the key 40, and can be eaSily and quickly reattached to the base member 12.

Referring to Figure 4, there is shown a key case, generally designated as 50, which utilizes the key chain 10 of the present invention.

Key case 50 comprises a case 52 of plastic, leather, or other flexible material. Case 52 comprises a central section 54 and a pair of flaps 56 and 58 extending along oPPQSite sides o-f the central section 54. The flaps 56 and 58 are adapted to be folded over the central section 574. A key chain supporting rod 60 extends transversely across the central section 54 adjacent the top end of the central section 54. The ends of the supporting rod 60 are secured to the central section 54 of the case 52 by suitable securement means 62. The key chains 10a, 10b, and 10a are mounted in side-by-side relation on the supporting rod 60 with the supporting rod 60 extending through Vthe transverse holes 'in the base members 12a, 1217, and 12tof the key chains 10a, 10h, and 10c. Thus, the key chains 10a, 1017, and 10c are pivotably mounted on the supporting rod 60 so that they can be pivoted between a position in which the keys 40a, 40h, and 40a` extend across the central section 54 of the case 52, and a position in which the keys extend beyond the top of the case 52. The flaps 56 and 58 of the case 52 have the port-ions 64 and 6 6 of a snap fastener seeured thereto so that the flaps 56 and 58 can be secured together when they are folded over the central section 54 of the case 52. Each of the key chains 10a, 10b, and 10c can be separated in the manner previously described to temporarily remove the keys 40a, 401;, 'and 40a` from the key case 50.

The present inventionV may be embodied in other specific forms without departiug from the Spirit or essenti-al attri'butes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing speeification as indicating the Scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A separable key chain comprising a base member having a rectangular hole extending longitudinally therethrough, a notch through a wall of said base member and extending from the rear end of said base member, a rectang-ular plate receivable in the .hole in said base member, a tongue integral with said plate land projecting beyond a Surface of said plate, said tongue being engageable with the end surface of the notch in said base member when the plate is inserted in said base member to releasably secure said plate in said base member, a strap extending longitudinally from the front end of said plate, said Strap being folded back upon itself and extending back to said plate, and means for releasably securing 'the free end of said Strap to said plate comprising a hole through said plate, a head on the free end of said Strap extending beyond the sides of said Strap, and said head being wider than the width of Said hole and being insertable through said hole upon twisting said Strap.

2. A key chain in accordance with claim 1 in which the base member, plate, and Strap are made of a plastic material.

3. A separable key chain comprsing a rectangular base member having a width greater than its thickness, said base member having a rectangular hole extending longitudinally therethrough, a rectangular notch through a wall of Said base member and eXtend-ing from the rear end of said base member, and a key attachment member including a rectangular plate of a width and length substantially equal to the width and length of the hole in said base member, a tongue integral w-ith said plate and projecting beyond a surface of said plate, a Strap narrower than the width of said plate integral with and extending longitudinally from the front end of said plate, said Strap being folded back upon itself and extending back to said plate, and means for releasably securing the free end of said Strap to said plate, the plate of said key attachment member being receivable in the hole in said base member with the tongue on said plate being eng'ageable with the end surface of the notch in said base member to releasably secure said plate in said base member.

4. A key chain in accordance with claim 3 in which the means for releasably securing the free end of the Strap 'to the plate comprises a rectangular hole through said plate, and rectangular head integral with the free end of said Strap, said head extending transversely across the end of said Strap and projecting beyond the sides of said Strap, Said head being wider than 'the width of the hole in sa-id plate and being insertable through the hole in said plate upon twisting said Strap.

5. A key chain in accordance with claim 4 in which the tongue on the plate is integral with the back end of the hole in said plate, and the tongue extends longitudinally along said hole but is shorter than the length of said hole.

6. A key chain in accordance with claim 5 in which the base member and key attachment member are made of a plastic material.

7. A key chain in accordance with claim 5 in which the base member has a rectangular groove in a wall of the hole therethrough, said groove being in alignment With and extending longitudinally to the'notch in said base member, and the tongue on the plate of the key attachment member passes through said groove upon insertion of said plate in said base member.

8. A key `chain in accordance with claim 3 in which said base member has a cylindrical hole extending transversely therethrough adjacent the rear end of said base member, 'and a supporting member slidably extends through said cylindrical hole to pivotably supportsaid base member.

9. A key chain in accordance with claim 3 in which the plate 'of the key attachment member is arched slightly between its ends.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATE-S PATENTS 665,032 Petway et al. Jan. 1, 1901 889,230 Hoffman June 2, 1908 1,37l,210 King Mar. 8, 192i 1,957,141 Jordan May 1, 1934 Nolan "":'-.--f--, Nov' 

